Motorcyclist dies after striking tractor trailer in Lafayette

Motorcyclist dies after striking tractor trailer in Lafayette

LAFAYETTE — A Broussard man was killed Wednesday when his fast-moving motorcycle hit a trailer being towed by a truck turning left onto a driveway in the 200 block of North Bernard Road.

Patrick Wafer, 27, who was wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene. He went off the road after his blue 2008 Suzuki GSX sports bike hit the trailer pulled by truck driver Chris Johnson, 44, of Lafayette, Broussard Police Chief Brannon Decou said.

Decou said police, responding to the accident reported at 1:15 p.m., found Wafer’s motorcycle in a ditch and the 2001 Volvo Tractor Trailer pulled into the private driveway of a business.

“Evidence as well as witnesses indicate that Wafer was travelling south on North Bernard Road at a high rate of speed” when the northbound truck turned left into the driveway, Decou said in a news release.

“Wafer impacted the rear of the trailer and was ejected from the motorcycle,” Decou said.

Johnson was ticketed for failure to yield.

Decou said alcohol impairment is not suspected, but toxicology reports are pending.